Cool MateHardship vs Struggle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Hardship
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Struggle
Top 1,000 (very common)B2verb
Most common: Struggle
| Hardship | Struggle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈhɑːdʃɪp//🇺🇸 //ˈhɑrdʃɪp// | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈstrʌɡl/","/ˈstrʌɡlz/","/ˈstrʌɡld/","/ˈstrʌɡlɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | A difficult situation or experience. | To try hard to do something difficult. |
| Example | She faced great hardship after losing her job. | She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | verb |
| Collocations | face hardship, endure hardship, overcome hardship | desperately, hard, manfully, have to, against, along, down, struggle to your feet, badly, really, clearly, through, with, struggle to make ends meet, fiercely, furiously, violently, against, with, struggle free |
| Antonyms | ease, comfort, prosperity | succeed, flourish, thrive |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'hardship' vs 'difficulty' - they are similar but not interchangeable in all contexts., Using the adjective form incorrectly, such as 'hardshipped' when referring to an experience., Overusing in light situations rather than serious struggles. | 'Struggled' vs 'struggles' confusion - using the wrong tense., Omitting 'to' when saying what one struggles to do., 'Struggles with' is sometimes mistakenly used with objects instead of actions. |
| Usage notes | Used in both formal and informal contexts to describe struggles or difficulties. Not typically used in casual conversation. | Use 'struggle' when discussing challenges or difficulties, both physically and mentally. It's appropriate in most contexts, from casual conversations to more serious discussions about issues. |
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Frequently asked questions: Hardship vs Struggle
What's the difference between Hardship and Struggle?
Hardship: A difficult situation or experience. Struggle: To try hard to do something difficult.
Which is more common: Hardship and Struggle?
Struggle is the most common in everyday English.
Which is more advanced: Hardship and Struggle?
Struggle is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Hardship and Struggle the same CEFR level?
Hardship: B1, Struggle: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Hardship and Struggle?
Hardship: noun, Struggle: verb.
Can you show an example of each?
Hardship: She faced great hardship after losing her job. Struggle: She had to struggle through the difficult exam to pass her class.
Can I use Hardship and Struggle interchangeably?
Not always. Hardship and Struggle are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.